Average lifetime of a coin in your collection?

dan1ecu

I was wondering how many coin collectors behave more like coin traders (like stock traders - buying and selling frequently). When you buy a coin, do you intend to keep it for the long term, or do you like to upgrade frequently? Do you find that you get tired of certain coins quickly, and then replace them with something else that you find more exciting? Of course, people who make a living in the coin business have to buy and sell all of the time. But how many people who collect coins only as a hobby are very active in buying and selling? I suppose it could get quite expensive. What are your thoughts on this?

Dan

LanLord

I am an accumulator/collector. Of all the coins I have ever bought or been given, I still own all but a very few of them. Of those that I no longer own, I sold one to Pat Braddick, I am sending a couple to another board member for a recent coin swap and when I was about 10 I buried about 8 or 10 (in a tin box) and never could remember where they were.

I have since quit trying to make buried treasures but will continue to participate in swaps and if I find an occasional piece that seems to fit in someones collection I'll try to work with them on these as well.

Otherwise, once I own it, it won't see freedom again until my departure from this mortal shell.

mrpaseo

I've been collecting for many years, just receintly I held my first two Ebay auctions for coins that I upgraded in my set, Ironically, I purchased all 4 of the coins at the same time from two different site useen locations. They all arrived on the same day, I chose to keep two and move two on. Thise were my first sales, all in all, I have been collecting (Allthought not actively the whole time) for about 20 years, a HUGE gap in between, but back then I did not sell, and now I do not sell.

Now I have given a few away and I have swapped a few.

Ray

EVillageProwler

It breaks my heart to sell my lifelong friends. Even for a handsome profit. Even my dups are precious to me.

I sold an 1872-S dollar so I can buy another one. I want the old one back (as well as to keep the new one). I sold it to a buddy of mine, so there's a chance I'll get it back someday!

EVP

gmarguli

Usually several years if it is a coin I purchased for my personal collection. Occasionally I'll find something I like better and "upgrade" it.

MAULUMALL

I think I am still in the "stocking stage".
I have only been collecting a short while(in comparison to the majority here).
The eye appeal is still there.

nwcs

The vast majority: a lifetime.

So far, of the coins I've sold, 2 that I sold today have been with me for over 13 years. A few low-grade coins were around for about 2 years and some for about 13 years. (Can you tell when I was last in the hobby and when I returned???) But I think I've finished selling things for a while.

Neil

dorkkarl

tough to give a average, i've had some coins for near 30 years, some for 30 minutes.

dang it! just dropped another half-dime. ok, 30 SECONDS.

K S

Bear

If a coin stays at least 20 years in one of my collections,
It becomes eligible for a small pension.

littlewicher

I've bought and resold about 50% of my collection since it started, about 3 years ago.

BNE

It took me a year to build my Jefferson proofs to where they are now. Now I am in a slow process of looking for higher-graded coins, to upgrade the set, or nicer examples of a coin in the same grade. Based on this, I'd say about a year or two if the coin was not PQ to start.

stujoe

Forever seems about right.

It is a little less than that as an average because I do occasionally upgrade and get rid of something. Other than that, everything stays.

IrishMike

I have some IHC's that have been in my family since the 1800's, I have owned them since the early fifties. I have a couple hundred lincoln cents that have been in my whitmans since the late fifties.

joemon2

I am a collector and really buy/hold for the long haul. Sometimes I will sell a duplicate but generally I can't part with a coin. I try to explain to my wife what a great investment coins are but she always replies "Where's the money?" So I do sell occasionally just to make sure my idea of eye appeal is not unique and to show my beloved that they really are a good investment (and a great hobby).

coynclecter

Most coins last about 5 years. This allows me to own a lot of different coins I could never afford to own all at once. Some of the raw ones I've had 15 or more years and I still have lincoln rolls I removed from circulation in the 60's. I also have 1964 mint sets bought directly from the mint.

NoviceKris

I am a short time collector and am "warehousing" now. I am always looking for new raw and slabbed but am limited on budget, of course. Selling would help but I cant seem to part with the ones I collect. I will eventually sell the stuff I have come into that I dont really like and use that money to get the stuff I do. Upgrading is a great idea, philosophically, but may be harder in practice. Hard to part with them when you recall their history with you. It would be too much like tossing the body of your now-dead beloved pet on the store counter and tell them. "Give me something a little bigger, I am trading up." Just a thought.

Kris

crito

I buy some coins for investment purposes and others for my personal collection. Of the investment coins, there are short term "crackout and resubmit" coins, and long term "sit on it for 10 years" coins. The ones in my personal collection, however, you'll have to pry from my dead cold fingers (or was that my gun... anyways.)